Jonas on a Farm in Winter eBook

“Yes, sir,” said Jonas, “if I could.
But I haven’t got but a dollar at my command,
and I suppose he is worth more than that.”

Jonas had a dollar of his own. Mr. Holiday had
given it to him when he left his house, thinking it
probable that he would want to buy something for himself.
Jonas had taken this money with him when he left the
farmer’s, intending to expend a part of it in
the market town; but he did not see any thing that
he really wanted, and so the money was in his pocket
now.

“Why, yes,” said Mr. Edwards, “I
gave a great deal more for him than that. Haven’t
you any more money with you?”

“Not of my own,” said Jonas.

“I suppose you got some for your produce.”

“Yes, sir,” said Jonas; “but it
belongs to the farmer that I work with.”

“And don’t you think that he would be
willing to have you pay a part of it for the dog?”

“I don’t know, sir,” said Jonas.
“I know he likes the dog very much, but I have
no authority to buy him with his money.”

If Jonas had been willing to have used his employer’s
money without authority, Mr. Edwards would not have
taken it. He made the inquiry to see whether
Jonas was trustworthy.

After a few minutes’ pause, Mr. Edwards resumed
the conversation, as follows:—­

“Well, Jonas,” said he, “I have
been thinking of this a little, and have concluded
to let you keep the dog for me a little while,—­that
is, if he is willing to go with you. But remember
he is my property still, and I shall have a right
to call for him, whenever I choose, and you must give
him up to me.”

“Yes, sir,” said Jonas, “I will.
And I wish that you would not agree to sell him to
any body else, without letting me know.”

“Well,” replied Mr. Edwards, “I
will not. So you may take him, and keep him till
I send for him,—­that is, provided he will
go with you of his own accord. I can’t
drive him away from his old home.”

Jonas thanked Mr. Edwards, and rose to go. Mr.
Edwards took his hat, and followed him to the door,
to see whether the dog would go willingly. When
he was upon the step, he called him.

“Ney,” said he, “Ney.”

Ney looked up, and, in a moment afterwards, jumped
out of the sleigh, and came running up to the door.

“Now,” continued Mr. Edwards, “if
you can call him back, while I am standing here, it
is pretty good proof that you have been kind to him,
and that he would like to go with you.”

So Jonas walked down towards the gate, looking back,
and calling,—­

“Franco, Franco, Franco!”

The dog ran down towards him a little way, and then
stopped, looked back, and, after a moment’s
pause, he returned a few steps towards his former
master. He seemed a little at a loss to know which
to choose.

Jonas got into his sleigh.

“Franco!” said he.

Franco looked at him, then at Mr. Edwards, then at
Jonas; and finally he went back to the door, and began
to lick his old master’s hand.